The influence of blind and constructive patriotism on attitudes toward multiculturalism and immigration

Abstract

Whereas blind patriotism involves uncritical support for one's country, constructive patriots believe in positive change through questioning and criticizing national practices. We predicted that blind patriotism (but not constructive patriotism) would be negatively related to support for immigration and multiculturalism. In addition, it was hypothesised that the negative relationship between blind patriotism and support for multiculturalism and immigration would be mediated by threat. Australians (N = 95) filled out a questionnaire measuring levels of patriotism, perceptions of cultural threat, and attitudes towards multiculturalism and immigration. As predicted, blind patriotism (but not constructive patriotism) was negatively correlated with general support for multiculturalism and immigration, and with support for providing cultural services to immigrants, relationships which were fully mediated by perceptions of cultural threat. Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.